The secret UK Government document claims Northern Ireland will be hit by job losses, road blockades and protests along with the return of a hard border when Britain leaves the EU in October.

The report, code-named ­Yellowhammer, was prepared for Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s Government and claims the UK will be hit by food, medicine and fuel shortages in the weeks immediately after it leaves the EU.

The secret dossier published by The Sunday Times also predicts chaos at ports with long delays in lorries using the main Channel crossings and delays for UK passengers at EU airports.

The Government report explains how current plans to avoid widespread checks on the Northern Ireland border will prove unsustainable with a physical border needed in the long term.

The report said: “Disruption to key sectors and job losses are likely to result in protests and direct action with road blockages.

“Price and other differentials are likely to lead to the growth of the illegitimate economy.

"This will be particularly severe in border communities where criminal and dissident groups already operate with greater freedom.”

Responding to the leak today, the UK Minister in charge of no-deal preparations, Michael Gove, said the Yellowhammer report was for a worst case scenario and claimed significant steps have been taken in the last three weeks to accelerate their Brexit plans.

FOOT OFF THE PEDAL

Fianna Fail today called on the Irish Government to step up their preparations for a no-deal, following the revelations of how hard the UK will be hit in the event of a crash out Brexit.

The party’s Brexit spokeswoman Lisa Chambers said: “The government here must step up its preparations for a no-deal Brexit.

“It has been evident since March that ministers have taken their foot off the pedal in terms of preparations for all Brexit outcomes and we are now playing catch up.

“Today’s story should act as a wake-up call to the very real possibility that the UK will crash out of the EU on October 31 and Ireland will be left reeling in the aftermath.

“Reports of food, fuel and medicine shortages in Britain will surely result in some form of contagion in Ireland because of our extensive use of the UK land bridge.

“There needs to be a greater sense of urgency from the government as well as more transparency about our level of preparedness for all Brexit eventualities.”

Labour Party leader Brendan Howlin also called on Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and his Government to increase efforts to prepare Ireland for a no-deal Brexit.

He said: “As I’ve said for some time, it is essential that the Irish Government accelerate no-deal planning.

NO SURPRISE

“Central to these preparations and missing to date has been the level of material support available for Ireland from the EU.

“We do not want this outcome. It is not in our interests or those of the people of Northern Ireland and Great Britain, but it appears that the British Government is prepared to proceed with no deal, and we must be ready.”

Sinn Fein’s Deputy Leader Michelle O’Neill today said the Yellowhammer report will come as no surprise for people living in Northern Ireland who have been voicing their concerns over this for a considerable period of time.

She said: “The British Government is dealing with the North of Ireland and the peace process as though it’s a commodity and it is a reckless, dangerous approach to take and one which must be opposed by the EU, US Congress and those who value the progress of the past 21 years in Ireland.”

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